Talladega National Forest

Oakmulgee Ranger District- The Oakmulgee Ranger District is located northwest of Montgomery, off U.S. Highway 82, around the town of Centreville. The District is home to Payne Lake Recreational Area, Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area.Shoal Creek Ranger District- The Shoal Creek Ranger District is located around the city of Heflin, with Interstate 20 leading through the District. Recreation opportunities include hiking, camping, fishing, boating, scenic driving, and horseback riding.Talladega Ranger District- The Talladega Ranger District is located in the eastern section of the Talladega National Forest, just east of the cities of Talladega and Sylacauga, Alabama.

Copyright: - US Forest Service
Alabama mountain scenery on the National Forests of Alabama

Description
- Alabama's four national forests, the Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega, and Tuskegee National Forests are administratively combined to encompass over 664,000 acres of public land. Surprisingly, this Deep South state actually has peaks over 2,000 feet tall. Many of them are within the National Forests in Alabama. These Forests stretch across portions of the Cumberland Plateau, Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont and Coastal Plain. These diverse lands range in elevation from over 2,000 feet in the Talladega National Forest, down to only 100 feet above sea level in the Conecuh National Forest. This area is so special to the state, it is often called "Alabama's Largest Natural Treasure".

High overlooks, rolling hills, and tree-studded flat land are among the contrasting terrains in the forests. Hikers enjoy an extensive network of trails, with some of the pathways crisscrossing two designated wilderness areas. There are roads for quiet drives with far-reaching scenic views and special walk-in areas designed for seeing wildlife. Boaters and water skiers can enjoy large, clean lakes, which have enough quiet coves to satisfy anglers as well.

Two wilderness areas are within the four national forests. The 25,002-acre Sipsey Wilderness in the Bankhead National Forest, is the second largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi. The 7,245-acre Cheaha Wilderness in the Talladega National Forests offers high elevations, with numerous overlooks for panoramic views of east-central Alabama.

Recreation - An assortment of recreation experiences are available to the many users who visit the four national forests each year. Whether it's camping, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, Off-Road Vehicle/ATV trails, bird-watching, bicycling riding, swimming, fishing, boating, sightseeing, or just enjoying the beauty of native plants, you'll find all that and more on the National Forests in Alabama.

Developed campgrounds and Recreation areas are scattered throughout the Forests. With few exceptions, dispersed camping is permitted in the general forest area except during the gun deer hunting season. At that time, camping is restricted to designated areas, or by special permit that can be obtained at the district office. Primitive dispersed camping is permitted in the Sipsey Wilderness without special permit requirements for forest users who are not hunting. A limited number of individual camping sites are available for advance reservations at Clear Creek Recreation Area.

Some 319 miles of developed trails are available to hikers through the Pinhioti Trails System in Talladega National Forest, the Conecuh Trail in Conecuh National Forest, Bartram Trail in the Tuskegee National Forest and the newly expanded trail system in the Bankhead National Forest. The largest project, in the Bankhead National Forest, added 82 miles of recreational trails to the 71 miles already in the forest. Included in the most recent trails project are trails for hiking only, some for bicycle riding, horseback riding and one for all-terrain vehicles.

Mountain biking is permitted on all national forest roads, in the general forest area, behind closed gates, on ORV trails, and on horse trails. Mountain bikes are prohibited in the wilderness areas and on all hiking trails.

Climate - The climate of Alabama's lowlands can be described as subtropical with nearly 60 inches of rain each year. The highest amount of rain reaches the region as afternoon thunderstorms in July, August and September. Summers are extremely hot and humid with temperatures frequently reaching above 100 degrees F. Summer nights cool slightly and provide a good time to travel through the region.

Winter temperatures are mild, rarely dipping below 40 degrees with the humidity level at its lowest in November and December. Spring and fall are very pleasant times to visit the region. Spring brings mild temperatures and blooming trees and flowers. During the fall temperatures range from 65 to 85 degrees F with low humidity levels. Northern Alabama is generally cooler than the south due to its higher elevations.

Location -
The National Forests of Alabama are scattered in five segments across the state. All four Forests are headquartered in Montgomery, with individual forest offices across the state. The Talladega National Forest offices are located in Centreville, Heflin and Talladega, in central and eastern Alabama.

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Trip Reports:
Add your own trip Report!Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others.
This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip reportFiled By: Greg Pence
(Birmingham, AL)
Number of People Encountered: 0-10 pplRecommend to a Friend: HighlyReport: Horseshoe Falls is a real surprise and worth the visit. Take 231 south off Interstate 20 to 40 South and follow the brown sides to the trailhead for Horseshoe Falls. The falls start at the trailhead. A real surprise this high up in the mountain. Unusual rocks and good parking, too. Visited on August 10 and saw no one; only one parked car from Louisiana.y

Additional Information:Alabama National Forests & Parks - Alabama has four National Forests, an Historic Site, a Military Park, a Monument and a Preserve. These areas are scattered throughout the state and offer a full variety of recreation opportunities.Central Alabama - Central Alabama includes the area surrounding Montgomery, Auburn and Tuscaloosa. The Tuskegee National Forest, a portion of the Talladega National Forest, numerous State Parks and several large lakes can be found in this area.North Alabama - North Alabama includes the northern third of the state, from Birmingham, north. This region offers waterfalls, fish-filled rivers and lakes, rapids suited for rafting and caves to explore.